Apparatus in a spinning room for making available a can-less fibre sliver package (feed material) for a sliver-fed spinning machine, for example a draw frame

ABSTRACT

An apparatus in a spinning room for providing at least one fiber sliver package to a sliver-fed machine having at least one feed position. The apparatus comprises a transport arrangement for transporting one or more fiber sliver packages from an upstream sliver-delivering machine or a storage station to a sliver-fed machine. The transport arrangement is arranged to supply at least one fiber sliver package to a feed position and the fiber sliver package(s) can be stably positioned at the feed position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of a German Application No. 10 2006 012581.9, filed Mar. 16, 2006. This application is additionally acontinuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/247,276, filed Oct.12, 2005, which application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.application Ser. No. 10/350,016, filed Jan. 24, 2003, (now abandoned),the latter application claiming priority from German Patent ApplicationNo. 10205061.9 filed Feb. 7, 2002, which priority is also claimed in thepresent application. The contents of all of the foregoing applicationsare incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an apparatus in a spinning room for providing acan-less fiber sliver package (feed material) for a sliver-fed spinningmachine, such as a draw frame, flyer, combing preparation machine,combing machine, spinning machine.

In earlier U.S. application Ser. No. 10/350,016 there is disclosed anapparatus in which from an upstream sliver-delivering spinning machine,for example a draw frame, or from an upstream storage means, thecan-less fiber sliver package can be supplied to the sliver-fed spinningmachine by a transport device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aim of the present invention to improve such an apparatus tothe effect that fiber sliver (feed material) can be made available in asimple manner.

The invention provides an apparatus in a spinning room for makingavailable at least one fiber sliver package to a sliver-fed machinehaving at least one feed position, comprising a transport arrangementfor transporting one or more fiber sliver packages from an upstreamsliver-delivering machine or a storage station to a said sliver-fedmachine, wherein the transport arrangement is arranged to supply atleast one said fiber sliver package to a said feed position and thefiber sliver package(s), the sliver package being stably positioned atsaid feed position.

By means of the measures taken according to the invention, fibermaterial (feed material) is made available to a sliver-fed spinning roommachine in a simpler and significantly more efficient manner. Aparticular advantage is obtained by the arrangement of, for example,four fiber sliver packages on a support, for example a pallet. Thearrangement of the fiber sliver packages immediately adjacent to oneanother on the support, without cans, saves a considerable amount ofspace. If the ends of adjacent fiber sliver packages are joinedtogether, a large package consisting of four individual packages isobtained on each pallet, which enables processing efficiency to beoptimized.

Advantageously, the transport arrangement comprises at least onetransport device and at least one support, wherein a said transportdevice is arranged for common transport of at least one said support,and at least one stably positioned fiber sliver package received on saidsupport.

Advantageously, the fiber sliver package is supported on the transportdevice for example on a said support (e.g. transport pallet).Advantageously, more than one fiber sliver package is supported on thetransport pallet. Advantageously, the number of fiber sliver packages,preferably 3, 4, 6 or 8, on the transport device, for example on atransport pallet, corresponds to the number of fiber sliver packages tobe supplied to the downstream processing device.

Advantageously, the support, for example a transport pallet, isassociated with a supporting element, for example a supporting wall,mounted on one side. Advantageously, the supporting element isassociated with a side face of the first deposited fiber sliver package.Advantageously, the supporting element is in fixed position.Advantageously, the supporting element is mounted on the support, forexample a transport pallet. Advantageously, the supporting element is inthe form of walls, rods, transport belts or the like. Advantageously,the supporting element consists of, or is coated with, a material thatpromotes sliding. Advantageously, the supporting element, for example asupporting wall or the like, is inclinable by, or is inclined by, aboutfrom 5 to 10°. Advantageously, the support, for example a transportpallet, is inclinable or is inclined by an angle preferably of from 5 to10°.

Advantageously, the support, for example a transport pallet, has on itsunderside insertion openings for transport apparatus and/or for couplingto transport apparatus, for example fork-lift trucks. Preferably, thesupport, for example a transport pallet, has slots or guide means or thelike into which driver elements, forks or the like are able to enter.

Advantageously, there is in each case an empty storage position on whicha fiber sliver package is positionable. Advantageously, there is in eachcase at least one empty storage position for fiber sliver packages to besupplied. Advantageously, a support, for example a transport pallet,provided with deposited fiber sliver packages is transportable to afurther textile machine, for example a spinning room machine, or to astorage means. The transport may be effected partly manually.

The transport arrangement preferably comprises a mobile transportapparatus, especially a transport vehicle. Advantageously, the transportapparatus is track-guided, for example by means of an induction loop orthe like, or is rail-guided. The transport apparatus may instead befreely movable. Advantageously, the support provided (loaded) withdeposited fiber sliver packages is positionable directly on a transportapparatus. Advantageously, the transport apparatus is a wagon or thelike, or a fork-lift truck or the like. Advantageously, the transportapparatus is drivable back and forth by means of drive means, forexample a drive motor.

Advantageously, displacement of the fiber sliver bundle onto and off thesupport is effected by pushing.

Advantageously, the sliver ends of the fiber sliver packages arejoinable to one another. Advantageously, the sliver ends of the fibersliver packages are positioned for joining. The sliver ends may bejoinable to one another manually. Instead, the sliver ends may bejoinable to one another by means of a device. Advantageously, in thecase of fiber sliver packages that are arranged one next to the other,one after the other, the sliver end of the lowermost layer of one fibersliver package is joinable to the sliver end of the uppermost layer ofthe other (adjacent) fiber sliver package. By joining together thesliver ends, a single total fiber sliver package consisting of aplurality of individual fiber sliver packages can advantageously becreated.

Advantageously, at least one side element, for example a wall or thelike, associated with the transport device is inclinable by, or isinclined by, about from 5 to 10°. Preferably the apparatus is a can-lessapparatus. Advantageously, in respect of the fiber sliver package thetransport to a subsequent processing device or to a storage means iseffected without cans, containers or the like. Advantageously, the fibersliver package is movable by mechanical means, which effects thedisplacement of the fiber sliver package into the feed positions withoutadditional cans, containers or the like. Advantageously, the mechanicalmeans is a pressure device, for example a slider or the like.

Advantageously, the fiber sliver is deposited by a sliver deliveringmachine in ring form to form fiber sliver packages. Advantageously, thesliver bundle is movable horizontally. Advantageously, the fiber sliverpackage is transported onto a support. Advantageously, the transportarrangement comprises a conveyor device, for example a belt conveyor,suspended conveyor or the like associated with one or more supports forthe fiber sliver packages.

Advantageously, the fiber sliver package is displaceable in jolt-free orsubstantially jolt-free manner during deposit of sliver to form a fibersliver package and/or during transport thereof. Advantageously, thealteration in the speed of the displacement device on the accelerationand deceleration paths takes place substantially continuously(steplessly). Advantageously, the displacement device is associated witha controllable drive device, for example a drive motor. Advantageously,the controllable drive device is connected to an electronic open-loopand closed-loop control device. Advantageously, the driven displacementdevice is able to effect stable displacement of the fiber sliverpackage.

Advantageously, the fiber sliver package is can-less. Advantageously,the fiber sliver package is elongate in cross-section. Advantageously,there is a supporting wall or the like which is able to support thefiber sliver package during displacement thereof onto the support and/ora side element associated with the support, which supporting wall or thelike and/or side element is inclinable or inclined about a horizontalaxis.

Advantageously, the fiber sliver package is displaceable in a stablysupported state. Advantageously, the fiber sliver package is supportableat the center of gravity or above the center of gravity. As mentioned,the transport arrangement may have a support, for example a transportpallet, for receiving the can-less fiber sliver package. Advantageously,the support and an associated supporting element are approximatelyL-shaped. Advantageously, the support can be elevated on the side remotefrom the supporting element. Advantageously, a pneumatic cylinder or thelike can be used for elevation. Advantageously, as a result of theelevation, the fiber sliver package, inclinable against the supportingelement and/or against a further fiber sliver package, is transferableinto a stable position. Advantageously, the support is a standardpallet.

Advantageously, a number of fiber sliver packages appropriate to furtherprocessing is transportable together on the support, for example atransport pallet. Advantageously, a transport device is provided forcommon transport of the support, for example a transport pallet, and atleast one stably positioned fiber sliver package.

Advantageously, a plurality of processing devices, for examplesmachines, and/or storage means can be served by a transport arrangementcomprising a rail- or track-guided, or freely movable transport device.Advantageously, the processing devices, for example machines, and/orstorage means are so positioned that they are arranged along a commonpath for the transport device. Advantageously, the transport of thesupport, for example a transport pallet, to one or more feed positions(unwinding positions) provided on the further processing machines iseffected. Advantageously, the feed position is selected from the lattice(feed table) of a draw frame, the lattice of a flyer, and the lattice ofa combing preparation machine. Advantageously, the feed position is thespinning position of a spinning machine (direct spinning).

Advantageously, the fiber sliver packages are provided with anidentification mark, for example a barcode, color marker or the like.The identification mark relates to the production conditions, the fibermaterial quality, or to test values. Advantageously, the identificationmark allows a mixture of fiber sliver packages to be assembled at thefeed positions. Advantageously, the assembly of fiber sliver packages toform a mixture can be effected at feed positions. The processing of thefiber sliver packages on the sliver-fed spinning machine can be effectedindividually. Instead, the processing of a plurality of fiber sliverpackages present on a support can be effected simultaneously.Advantageously, the number of working-off points (sliver-detachmentpoints) corresponds to the number of fiber sliver packages on a support,for example a transport pallet. Advantageously, the fiber sliverpackages are processed one after the other, the ends of adjacent fibersliver packages being joined together. Advantageously, processing oneafter the other is effected without interruption. Advantageously, in thecase of a plurality of fiber sliver packages arranged on a support, someare processed individually and some are processed one after the other.Advantageously, in the case of direct spinning fiber sliver packages atthe feed positions are exchanged individually. Advantageously, in thecase of direct spinning fiber sliver packages at the feed positions areexchanged in blocks, for example four fiber sliver packages on onesupport (transport pallet). Advantageously, the number of fiber sliverpackages is selectable so that they can in each case be matched to theway in which the sliver-fed spinning machines are distributed.

The invention also provides an apparatus in a spinning room forproviding a can-less fiber sliver package (feed material) for asliver-fed spinning machine, for example a draw frame, flyer, combingpreparation machine, combing machine, or spinning machine, in which froman upstream sliver-delivering spinning machine, for example a drawframe, or from an upstream storage means, the can-less fiber sliverpackage can be supplied to the sliver-fed spinning machine by atransport device, wherein at least one can-less fiber sliver package canbe supplied to the feed positions of the sliver-fed spinning machine andstably positioned at the feed positions.

Moreover, the invention provides a transport system in a textile fiberprocessing installation, for transporting at least one can-less fibersliver package along a predetermined path within the textile fiberprocessing installation between a can-less fiber sliver package deliverystation and a sliver-fed machine, the transport system comprising atransport device adapted to receive can-less fiber sliver packages fromthe fiber sliver package delivery station, carry the received can-lessfiber sliver package(s) in a stably positioned manner and to deliverthose can-less fiber sliver packages to the sliver-fed machine, and thetransport system being adapted to deliver the fiber sliver package(s) toa feed location of the sliver-fed machine in such a manner that thefiber sliver package(s) are stably positioned during taking-off ofsliver therefrom by the sliver-fed machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in greater detail below with referenceto the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 a is a diagrammatic side view of an exemplary draw frameincorporating an exemplary apparatus according to the present invention,using a support plate for depositing fiber sliver in the form of acan-less fiber sliver package, in one end position beneath the rotaryplate;

FIG. 1 b shows the exemplary apparatus according to FIG. 1 a but in theother end position beneath the rotary plate;

FIG. 2 shows the exemplary apparatus according to FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, butoutside the sliver delivery device;

FIGS. 3 a, 3 b, and 3 c show a plan view (FIG. 3 a), a side view (FIG. 3b), and a front view (FIG. 3 c), of the can-less fiber sliver packagedeposited on the support plate;

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus according to theinvention with a block circuit diagram comprising an electronic controland regulation device, to which there are connected a controllable drivemotor for the horizontal displacement device of the support plate, acontrollable drive motor for the vertical displacement device of thesupport plate and a controllable drive motor for the rotary plate;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the outlet region of an exemplary drawframe having a support plate and a can-less fiber sliver package in thesliver-depositing area;

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b show an exemplary embodiment of the support plate withthrough-openings for cone-shaped fixing elements in the engaged position(FIG. 6 a) and in the disengaged position (FIG. 6 b);

FIG. 7 a shows an exemplary embodiment of the support plate withgroove-shaped recesses;

FIGS. 7 b and 7 c show the support plate according to FIG. 7 a withlifting elements for the fiber sliver package, lowered out of engagement(FIG. 7 b) and raised into engagement (FIG. 7 c);

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the outlet region of the dischargeregion downstream of the draw frame, with a support plate and a can-lessfiber sliver package above a transport pallet;

FIG. 8 a is a perspective view of the discharge region according to FIG.8 viewed towards the supporting wall on the transport pallet.

FIG. 8 b is a perspective view of an exemplary device for causing adischarged sliver package to adopt an inclined position;

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary storage device with a conveyor belt, on whichthere are arranged one after the other—in each case with an inclinedsupporting wall—an empty transport pallet, a transport pallet partiallyloaded with fiber sliver packages, and a transport pallet fully loadedwith fiber sliver packages;

FIGS. 10 a to 10 e show diagrammatic plan views of the discharge of acan-less fiber sliver package onto a transport pallet;

FIG. 10′ is a front view of a portion of the arrangement shown in FIG.10 c;

FIG. 11 shows four can-less fiber sliver packages arranged one next tothe other on a transport pallet, the respective sliver ends of thelowermost and uppermost layers of adjacent fiber sliver packages beingjoined to one another;

FIG. 12 shows a transport pallet inclined transversely with respect tothe direction of the longitudinal axes of the fiber sliver packages on afork-lift truck, the forks engaging under the transport pallettransversely with respect to the longitudinal axes;

FIG. 13 shows a transport pallet inclined transversely with respect tothe direction of the longitudinal axis of the fiber sliver packages, theforks of a fork-lift truck engaging under the transport pallet in thedirection of the longitudinal axes of the fiber sliver packages;

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic view of an exemplary system having six drawframes, two transport vehicles and a press for can-less fiber sliverpackages;

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic view of an exemplary draw frame having anupstream feed table (lattice), on which there are eight (independent)can-less fiber sliver packages on two transport pallets;

FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic view of an exemplary draw frame having anupstream feed table on which there are located eight can-less fibersliver packages on eight respective transport pallets;

FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic view of an exemplary system having a pluralityof flat cards, each with a flat card drafting system, a plurality ofstorage means for can-less fiber sliver packages, having a plurality ofsupports for transporting can-less fiber sliver packages inside thesystem, transport vehicles and a plurality of spinning machines (directspinning);

FIG. 18 is a diagrammatic side view of an exemplary flat cardincorporating an exemplary apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a diagrammatic side view of an exemplary flyer incorporatingan exemplary apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a diagrammatic plan view of an exemplary combing preparationmachine incorporating an exemplary apparatus according to the presentinvention; and

FIG. 21 is a diagrammatic plan view of an exemplary combing machineincorporating an exemplary apparatus according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail below. Indescribing embodiments, specific terminology is employed for the sake ofclarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to thespecific terminology so selected. While specific exemplary embodimentsare discussed, it should be understood that this is done forillustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art willrecognize that other components and configurations can be used withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. All referencescited herein are incorporated by reference as if each had beenindividually incorporated.

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b show an exemplary draw frame 1, for example, aTrützschler draw frame TD 03. A plurality of fiber slivers, coming froman upstream lattice (feed table), enter a drafting system 2, are draftedtherein and, after the outlet of the drafting system 2, are combined toform a fiber sliver 12. The fiber sliver 12 passes through a rotaryplate 3 and is then deposited in rings on a base which moves back andforth in the direction of arrows A and B to form a can-less fiber sliverpackage 5. Support plate 4 can have, for example, a rectangular top face4 ₁. Referring to FIG. 4, the support plate 4 can be driven by acontrollable drive motor 6 which is connected to an electronic controland regulation device 7, for example, a machine controller. Referringback to FIGS. 1 a, 1 b, reference numeral 8 denotes a cover sheet of thesliver-depositing device which is adjoined by the rotary plate panel 9.K denotes the working direction (flow of fiber material) inside the drawframe 1, while the fiber sliver is delivered by the rotary plate 3substantially in the vertical direction. Reference numeral 10 denotesthe depositing area, reference numeral 11 denotes the region outside thedepositing area 10. The depositing area 10 for the fiber slivercomprises the region g in accordance with FIG. 1 b. The support plate 4is moved horizontally back and forth beneath the rotary plate 3 whilethe fiber sliver 12 is being deposited. FIG. 1 a shows one end positionand FIG. 1 b shows the other end position of the support plate 4 whichmoves back and forth horizontally in directions A, B beneath the rotaryplate 3 during deposition of the fiber sliver 12. The fiber sliverpackage 5 is moved back and forth, corresponding to directions A, B, inthe direction of arrows C, D beneath the rotary plate 3. Once the endposition shown in FIG. 1 a has been reached, the support plate 4 travelsin the direction of arrow A, the support plate 4 being accelerated,driven at a constant speed and then braked. Once the end position shownin FIG. 1 b has been reached, the support plate 4 travels back in thedirection of arrow B, the support plate 4 being accelerated, driven at aconstant speed and then braked. Switching-over between the back andforth movements is effected by the control device 7 in conjunction withthe drive motor 6 (see FIG. 4).

The variable-speed electric motor 6 drives the support plate 4 at ajolt-free or nearly jolt-free speed. In particular, the acceleration andthe braking are jolt-free or nearly jolt-free. The speed betweenacceleration and braking is constant. By that, it is meant that thefiber sliver package 5 remains stable both during the back and forthmovement in the depositing area 10 according to FIG. 1 a and 1 b andduring the movement out of the depositing area 10 according to FIG. 2.The movements are so controlled that the production rate achieved is ashigh as possible, without the fiber sliver package 5 (sliver bundle)slipping or even tipping over.

While the fiber sliver 12 is being deposited, the control device 7 (seeFIG. 4) controls the back and forth movement of the support plate 4 inorder to produce a stable can-less fiber sliver package 5. In accordancewith one exemplary embodiment, the rotary plate 3 rotates in a fixedposition and deposits the fiber sliver 12 on the support plate 4 at asubstantially constant deposition force. The constant delivery force isachieved, among other factors, by delivery of a constant amount of fibersliver 12 per fiber material layer of the fiber sliver 12. If, forexample, the rotary plate 3 deposits fiber sliver 12 on the supportplate 4 or on top of already deposited fiber sliver rings, each layer offiber sliver rings receives a substantially constant amount of fibersliver 12 either during the forward movement or during the backwardmovement. Because the amount of fiber sliver 12 per layer is constant,stability of the fiber sliver package 5 is achieved.

The amount by which the support plate 4 moves back and forth is alsocontrolled by the increasing stability of the fiber sliver package 5.Whenever the support plate 4 reaches the turn-round point of either theforward or backward movement, the control means 7 brakes the supportplate 4, the support plate 4 reaching a border region 402 a or 402 b(see FIGS. 3 a, 3 b) of the fiber sliver package 5, and accelerates thesupport plate 4 whenever the support plate 4 leaves the border region402 a or 402 b. Between the border regions 402 a and 402 b on each sideof the fiber sliver package 5, the control means 7 controls the supportplate 4 at a constant speed. The border region 402 a or 402 b is thelocation at each end of the fiber sliver package 5 where the fibersliver rings deposited on the support plate 4 do not completely overlapone another.

The border region 402 a or 402 b can be located shortly before theturn-round point of the movement of the support plate 4 at each end ofthe fiber sliver package 5. In contrast, in the non-border region 404,either during the forward or return movement of the support plate 4, therearward edge of each fiber sliver ring is also arranged from above onthe forward edge of the previously deposited fiber band ring.

With regard to the small amount of fiber sliver that is deposited in theborder region 402 a or 402 b, the control device 7 brakes the supportplate 4 so that more fiber sliver 12 can be deposited in the borderregion 402 a or 402 b and accelerates the support plate 4 to a constantspeed in the non-border region 404. The braking of the support plate 4results in an increase in the amount of fiber sliver deposited in theborder region 402 a or 402 b, because the rotary plate 3 delivers thefiber sliver 12 at a constant rate irrespective of the movement of thesupport plate 4. Whenever the support plate 4 is braked, more fibersliver 12 can be deposited at that point, which corresponds to thenon-overlapping fiber sliver rings close to the turn-round points. Thenon-uniform speed of the support plate 4 allows a substantially uniformamount of fiber sliver 12 which is deposited in both border regions 402a and 402 b and in the non-border region 404 (FIGS. 3 a, 3 b) of thefiber sliver package 5 for each layer of fiber sliver 12 during the backand forth movement of the support plate 4. The non-uniform speed of thesupport plate 4 results in a substantially uniform density of fibersliver 12 at all points of the fiber sliver package 5. The uniformdensity of the fiber sliver 12 enables the fiber sliver package 5 to beformed stably on the support surface 4 and allows the fiber sliverpackage 5 to be accelerated and braked forwards and backwards, avoidingthe possibility of the can-less laterally unsupported fiber sliverpackage 5 becoming unstable or at risk of tipping over.

After the deposition of the fiber sliver package 5 on the surface 4 iscomplete, as shown in FIG. 2, the support plate 4, together with thefiber sliver package 5, moves out of the sliver delivery device in thedirection of arrow I. The control means 7 controls the movement of thesupport plate 4 so that a switch-over is made from the back and forthmovement (arrows A, B) for the sliver deposition to the outward movement(arrow I) out of the depositing area 10 into the discharge region 11.

FIG. 3 a shows a plan view of a ring-shaped fiber sliver package 5 whichhas been deposited freely on the top face 4 ₁ of the support plate 4.FIG. 3 b shows a side view of the fiber sliver package 5 which isarranged freely on the support plate 4. FIG. 3 c shows a front view ofthe fiber sliver package 5, which has been positioned freely on thesupport plate 4. As shown in FIGS. 3 a to 3 c, the fiber sliver package5 is formed from fiber sliver rings stacked in a substantiallyrectangular shape. The rectangular shape of the fiber sliver package 5is created by the way in which the fiber sliver 12 has been deposited.The rotation of the rotary plate 3 by which the fiber sliver 12 isdelivered forms a layer of overlapping rings of fiber sliver 12 on areceiving surface 4 ₁ of the support plate 4, and the back and forthmovement of the support plate 4 under the control of the control device7 establishes the locations at which the fiber sliver rings are formedon the receiving surface 4 ₁. The movement of the support plate 4 hasthe effect that the deposited fiber sliver rings are arranged on thereceiving surface 4 ₁ of the support plate 4 staggered relative to oneanother and partly overlapping one another, which creates thesubstantially rectangular shape of the fiber sliver package 5, seen inplan view. At each end of the fiber sliver package 5, caused by thechange in the direction of the back and forth movement of the supportplate 4, the fiber sliver package 5 has rounded ends to the rectangularshape, as FIG. 3 a clearly shows. The rectangular shape of the fibersliver package 5 is advantageous, because, as compared with conically orcylindrically shaped fiber sliver packages, it promotes the stability ofthe fiber sliver package 5.

FIG. 3 a shows a plan view of the fiber sliver 12 of the fiber sliverpackage 5 deposited in a ring arrangement. FIGS. 3 b and 3 c show inside view and in front view, respectively, the fiber sliver package 5standing freely, that is to say without a can, container or the like, onthe upper face 4 ₁ of the support plate 4. In respect of the dimensionsof the fiber sliver package 5, the length according to FIG. 3 a isdenoted by reference letter a, the width according to FIG. 3 c byreference letter b and the height according to FIG. 3 c by referenceletter c. With regard to the dimensions of the support plate 4, thelength according to FIG. 3 a is denoted by reference letter d, the widthaccording to FIG. 3 a by reference letter e and the height according toFIG. 3 c by reference letter f. Reference numeral 5 ₅ (FIG. 3 a) denotesthe upper face, reference numeral 5 ₁ (FIG. 3 b) a long side face andreference numeral 5 ₃ (FIG. 3 c) a short end face of the substantiallycuboidal fiber sliver package 5 which is of substantially rectangularcross-section. The other long side face 5 ₂, the other short end face 5₄ and the base surface 5 ₆ are not shown

According to FIG. 4, there is shown an electronic control and regulationdevice 7, for example, a machine controller. The electronic control andregulation device 7 can be connected to a controllable drive motor 6 forthe horizontal displacement of the support plate 4, a controllable drivemotor 13 for the vertical displacement of the support plate 4, and acontrollable drive motor 14 for the rotary plate 3. A raising andlowering device is mounted on a carriage 20, which raising and loweringdevice consists of a framework, guide rollers 18 a, 18 b, and a flexibletransport element, which can be moved in the direction of arrows L andM. The vertically displaceable support plate 4 (see arrows E, F in FIG.1 a) includes two driver elements 15 a, 15 b. Those driver elements 15a, 15 b, which are arranged on the opposite narrow sides of the supportplate 4, rest on support elements 16 a, 16 b, which are attached toperpendicularly arranged flexible transport elements, for exampletoothed belts 17 a, 17 b circulating around toothed belt wheels. One ofthe guide rollers 18 a is driven by a motor 13. The motor 13 is in theform of a reversible motor, which can run at different speeds and inboth directions of rotation. On arrival of an empty support plate 4, thedriver elements 15 a, 15 b lie on the support elements 16 a, 16 blocated at the bottom, so that upward displacement of the supportelements 16 a, 16 b brings about an upward movement of the driverelements 15 a, 15 b and accordingly of the support plate 4. Thetransport elements 16 a, 16 b are attached, for example, by means ofholding elements 19 a, 19 b of the framework, to the carriage 20, whichis moved horizontally back and forth in the direction of arrows O, P bya circulating transport element 21, for example a toothed beltcirculating around toothed belt wheels.

The rotary plate 3 held by the fixed rotary plate panel 9 deposits fibersliver 12 on the support plate 4, the resulting fiber sliver package 5standing on the support plate 4 and being moved back and forth in thedirection of arrows A, B (see FIG. 1 a). During the ongoing fiber sliverdeposition, the upper fiber sliver rings of the fiber sliver package 5are constantly in contact with the underside 9 a of the rotary platepanel 9. The deposited fiber sliver 12 of the fiber sliver package 5presses against the underside 9 a and against the lower cover face 3 aof the rotary plate 3. In order that a pre-determined constant pressingforce is exerted vertically on the deposited fiber sliver 12, thecontrol and regulation device 7 regulates the speed of the motor 13 sothat the force exerted by the uppermost layer of the fiber sliver 12remains constant. In other words, the speed of the motor 13 is such thatthe rate (amount) of downward movement of the support elements 16 a, 16b, which are attached to the flexible transport elements 17 a, 17 b, inconjunction with the speed of fiber sliver deposition by the rotaryplate 3 driven by the motor 14 ensures uniform compression of the fibersliver 12 in each height position of the downwardly moving support plate4. After each stroke g (see FIG. 1 b) in the horizontal direction, thesupport plate 4 is displaced downwards by a pre-set amount. This pre-setamount can correspond to the thickness of a single layer of the fibersliver. The can-less fiber sliver package 5 is pressed against the lowerfaces 9 a and 3 a of the rotary plate panel 9 and the rotary plate 3during the horizontal back and forth movement as a consequence of theresilience inherent in the fiber sliver 12 and as a consequence of thepressing force of the displaceable support plate 4. The fiber sliverpackage 5 is accordingly stabilized actively and passively during thehorizontal back and forth movement.

FIG. 4 shows the carriage 20 with the holding devices 19 a, 19 b. Theholding elements 19 a, 19 b hold two belts 17 a, 17 b, which are able tomove the support plate 4 upwards or downwards in the direction of arrowsL, M. The can-less fiber sliver package 5 is arranged on the top face 4₁ of the support plate 4. During fiber sliver deposition, the supportplate 4 is moved back and forth in the direction of arrows A, B (seeFIGS. 1 a and 1 b). Once each corresponding end position has beenreached, the support plate 4 is displaced downwards in direction E (FIG.1 a) by less than the thickness of a fiber sliver, for example, 10 mm,with the aid of the drive motor 13, in order to create a substantiallyconstant space (or room) for the next layer of fiber sliver material tobe substantially immediately deposited into. The substantially constantspace relates to the region between the upper side of the laterallyunsupported fiber sliver package 5 and the base surface 3 a of therotary plate 3 and produces a constant force pressure per depositedfiber sliver layer. The substantially constant space allows onlysubstantially constant room for fiber sliver 12 deposited for each fibersliver layer. A fiber sliver layer represents the amount of fiber sliver12 that is deposited onto the fiber sliver package 5 between a pair ofmovement turn-around points for the support plate 4 (that is to say fromone point at which the support plate 4 changes direction to the nextsubsequent point at which the support plate changes direction).Deposition of the fiber sliver 12 in the substantially constant spaceallows a substantially constant density of fiber sliver 12 at alllocations within the fiber sliver package 5, which promotes thestability of the fiber sliver package 5.

The substantially constant space formed by lowering the support plate 4(see arrow E in FIG. 1 a) is filled directly and immediately by thefiber sliver 12 constantly flowing in from the rotary plate 3. Duringsliver deposition, the upper side of the fiber sliver package 5 presses,with no spacing, against the base surface 3 a of the rotary plate 3 andagainst the base surface 9 a of the rotary plate panels 9. There isconstant contact. The deposited fiber sliver mass of the fiber sliverpackage 5 is pressed against the lower faces 3 a and 9 a as aconsequence of the resilience inherent in the fiber sliver 12 and as aconsequence of the biasing force of the displaceable support plate 4. Atthe same time, this results in pre-compaction of the fiber sliverpackage 5, which is advantageous for further discharge and furthertransport of the fiber sliver package 5.

FIG. 5 shows a fiber sliver package 5 a on a support plate 4 duringsliver deposition in the depositing area 10. Reference numeral 20denotes the carriage (guide device, holding device) which is movableback and forth horizontally. The fiber sliver package 5 a is displacedhorizontally in direction C, D of its longitudinal axis (see FIG. 1 a),that is to say in the direction of its long side faces. Parallel to andspaced apart from a side face 5 of the sliver package 5 a, there is afixed side wall 22 a which is independent of the carriage 20 andprevents any falling fiber material or the like from entering themachine. The length of the path g (see FIG. 1 b) (stroke length) isvariable by means of the motor 6 (see FIG. 4), so that the length a (seeFIG. 3 a) of the fiber sliver package 5 a is adjustable. Downstream ofthe depositing area 10 there is arranged the discharge region 11 inwhich a transport pallet 25 can be located. Two fiber sliver packages 5b, 5 c can be stored one next to the other on the pallet 25.

Referring to FIGS. 6 a and 6 b, an exemplary embodiment 4.1 of thesupport plate 4 is shown. Through-holes 4.1.1 can be arranged in the topface 4 ₁ of the support plate 4.1. A plate 23 can be arranged on theopposite side of support plate 4.1, and can include conical lugs havingtips 23.1. As shown in FIG. 6 a, the tips 23.1 can project through thethrough holes 4.1.1. The plate 23 can be raised and lowered in thedirection of arrows Q₁, Q₂ (FIG. 6 b) so that when the plate 23 islowered in direction Q₂ the tips 23.1 become disengaged from the holes4.1.1 according to FIG. 6 b. According to FIG. 6 a, the tips 23.1project through the holes 4.1.1 for a short time only at the start offiber sliver deposition, so that the first layer of fiber sliverdeposited is held on the regularly smooth top face 4 ₁ and does notslide off the top face 4 ₁. As soon as the layer of fiber sliver islying stably on the top face 4 ₁, the tips 23.1 are lowered out ofengagement in direction Q₂, so that at a later stage during dischargethe fiber sliver package 5 can slide down from the top face 4 ₁ withoutproblems.

FIGS. 7 a to 7 c show another exemplary embodiment of a support plate.According to FIGS. 7 a to 7 c, the top face 4 ₁ of the support plate 4.2can define longitudinal grooves 4.2.1. As shown in FIG. 7 b, elongatelifting rods 24 a, 24 b or the like can be inserted in direction R₁, R₂underneath the lower side of the fiber sliver package 5. In accordancewith FIG. 7 c, the lifting rods 24 a, 24 b can be raised in directionS₁, S₂, with the result that the lower side of the fiber sliver package5 is lifted away from top face 4 ₁ of the support plate 4.2, so that thesupport plate 4.2 can be displaced in direction W underneath the fibersliver package S and without frictional contact with the fiber sliverpackage 5 (see also FIG. 10 d).

According to FIG. 8, the support plate (hidden from view), together witha fiber sliver package 5 d, can be located in the discharge region abovethe top face 25 ₁ of the transport pallet 25. Transverse to thelongitudinal axis of the fiber sliver packages 5 b, 5 c, that is to sayin the direction of their short side or end faces 53, 54 (shown, e.g.,in FIGS. 3 a-3 c), the transport pallet 25 can be inclined at an angle αof, for example, approximately 7° to the horizontal. As shown in FIG. 8a, on the side face 25 ₂ of the transport pallet 25 close to the base,there can be mounted a supporting wall 26, for example, a smooth sheetmetal wall or the like. The supporting wall 26 can form an angle ofabout 90° with respect to the top face 25 ₁ of the transport pallet 25.As a result, the fiber sliver package 5 c can lean against the supportwall 26. The adjacent fiber sliver package 5 b can lean against theinclined fiber sliver package 5 c in contact therewith. By virtue oftheir inclination, the fiber sliver packages 5 b, 5 c are supportedstably on the transport pallet 25 and are secured against tipping overand the like. As also shown in FIG. 8 a, the smooth side wall 22 b isdisplaceable in the direction of arrows T₁, T₂, so that during thedischarge of the fiber sliver package 5 d troublesome frictional contactwith the stored fiber sliver package 5 b can be avoided. According toFIG. 8 b, there is shown an exemplary supporting element 98, forexample, a perpendicular supporting wall, which can be inclined by about5 to 10° in the horizontal direction about a pivot bearing 99, in orderto incline the discharged fiber sliver package 5 d against the storedand inclined fiber sliver package 5 b. One or more of the supportingwalls 22 b, 98 can be adapted to couple and decouple with the receivingsupport surface (hidden from view).

According to FIG. 9, an exemplary storage apparatus is shown in the formof a belt storage. A conveyor belt 29 endlessly circulates around twoguide rollers 28 a, 28 b driven by a motor 27. On the upper belt portion29 ₁ there are arranged, one after the other in direction U₁ and lyinghorizontally on the belt, an empty transport pallet 25 a, a transportpallet 25 b loaded with a fiber sliver package 5 c, and a transportpallet 25 c fully loaded with four fiber sliver packages 5 b, 5 c, 5 d,5 e. On one end face 25 ₂ of each transport pallet 25 a, 25 b, 25 cthere is mounted a supporting wall 26 a, 26 b, 26 c or the like, whichcan be arranged inclined at an angle β of about from 5° to 10° relativeto the vertical. By virtue of the inclination of the supporting wall 26,the fiber sliver packages 5 b, 5 c, 5 d, 5 e can be positioned stably onthe transport pallets 25 b and 25 c. Each time a fiber sliver package 5has been unloaded onto the transport pallet 25 b, the upper belt portion29 ₁ moves in direction U₁ by the width b (see FIG. 3 c) of a fibersliver package 5. During or after the loading of the transport pallet 25b, the already full transport pallet 25 c can be transported away. Oncethe transport pallet 25 b has been loaded with four fiber sliverpackages 5, the upper belt portion 29, is moved in direction U₁ so thatthe full transport pallet 25 b moves into the position for beingtransported away and the empty transport pallet 25 a moves into the(middle) position for discharge of the fiber sliver packages 5. A freshempty transport pallet (not shown) is then placed on the upper beltportion 29 ₁.

In accordance with FIG. 10 a, driven by the motor 6, in the course ofbeing discharged from the sliver-depositing area 10, a support plate 4,together with a can-less fiber sliver package 5 d, is moved horizontallyin direction I and arrives at a position spaced apart by distance habove the top face 25 ₁ of the transport pallet 25 (see FIG. 10′) and inparallel next to a fiber sliver package 5 c already being stored on thetop face 25 ₁ (FIG. 10 b). A holding-back element 27 is then displacedhorizontally in direction V₁ from a position outside the transportpallet 25 (FIG. 10 b) to a position in front of the end face 5 ₄ (seeFIG. 10 c) of the fiber sliver package 5 d (by a drive device not shown)and spaced apart by distance i above the top face 4 ₁ of the supportplate 4 (see FIG. 10′). Then, driven by the motor 6, the support plate 4is moved back alone, without the fiber sliver package 5 d, horizontallyin direction J beneath the holding-back element 27 (see FIG. 10 d). Inthe course of that movement in direction J, the fiber sliver package 5d, held in place by the holding-back element 27, slides off the smoothsurface 4 ₁ of the support plate 4, so that the fiber sliver package 5 dis removed from the support plate 4. At the same time, as shown in FIG.10 d, the fiber sliver package 5 d is deposited on the surface 25 ₁ ofthe transport pallet 25. The distance h between the lower face 4 ₂ ofthe support plate 4 and the upper side 25 ₁ of the transport pallet 25(see FIG. 10′) is small, so that when sliding off the support plate 4the fiber sliver package 5 d is lowered onto the transport pallet 25without problems. Finally, the holding-back element 27 is moved backhorizontally in direction V₂ (FIG. 10 e).

In the position according to FIG. 10 c, the support plate 4 can berotated (not shown) about its longitudinal axis through an angle ofabout from 5° to 10°, so that the fiber sliver package 5 d is inclinedin the direction towards and parallel to the side face of the deposited,inclined fiber sliver package 5 c. The rotation of the support plate 4assists the downward sliding movement of the fiber sliver package 5 dfrom the top face 4 ₁.

Alternatively (or additionally) a sheet metal wall or the like can beadapted to move horizontally into the region above the transport pallet25, and incline about its longitudinal axis, causing the fiber sliverpackage 5 d to incline in the direction towards and parallel to the sideface of the fiber sliver package 5.

According to FIG. 11, four can-less fiber sliver packages 5 a to 5 d arearranged one next to the other on the top face 25 ₁ of a transportpallet 25. The sliver end or the end of the last ring of fiber sliver ofa top layer (top face 5 ₅) is joined to the sliver end or the end of thefirst ring of fiber sliver of a base layer (base surface 5 ₆) ofadjacent fiber sliver packages. In the example shown in FIG. 11, thesliver end of the last ring of fiber sliver of the top layer (top face55) of fiber sliver package 5 a is joined to the sliver end of the firstring of fiber sliver of the base layer (base surface 5 ₆) of fibersliver package 5 b. The same applies to the sliver ends and the joiningtogether thereof in respect of the further fiber sliver packages 5 c and5 d. In that way, by joining together the sliver ends, a single totalfiber sliver package comprising a plurality of individual fiber sliverpackages 5 a to 5 d is created. When supplied to and worked off onsliver-fed machines (e.g., those shown in FIGS. 15 to 17 and 19 to 21),all fiber sliver packages of the total fiber sliver package, beginningwith the top layer (top face 5 ₅) of fiber sliver package 5 d, can beworked off one after the other in a single operation and withoutinterruptions.

In accordance with FIG. 12, there is a fork-lift truck 31 fortransporting the transport pallet 25 with fiber sliver packages 5 a to 5d arranged on its top face 25 ₁. Transverse to the direction of thelongitudinal axis of the fiber sliver packages 5 a to 5 d (e.g.,parallel to the short end faces of the fiber sliver packages 5 a to 5d), the transport pallet 25 can be inclined at an angle γ to thehorizontal. The correspondingly inclined forks 32 of the fork-lift truck31 can engage under the transport pallet 25 transverse to thelongitudinal axes of the fiber sliver packages 5 a to 5 d. The sidefaces of the fiber sliver packages 5 a to 5 d and the supporting wall 26can be inclined at an angle relative to the vertical. The bundle 5′comprising fiber sliver packages 5 a to 5 d can be supported stably fortransport and secured against slipping, tipping over or the like, forexample, by virtue of its being inclined relative to the vertical, itsleaning against the supporting wall 26, and its being supported abovethe center of gravity of the bundle 5′ or its having a low center ofgravity below the supporting means.

The exemplary configuration of FIG. 13 can use the fork-lift truck 31 ofFIG. 12, or a similar transport vehicle. Transport pallet 25 supportsfiber sliver packages 5 a to 5 d. Transport pallet 25 can be inclined byan angle δ transversely with respect to the direction of thelongitudinal axes of the fiber sliver packages 5 a to 5 d. The forks 32a, 32 b of the fork-lift truck (not shown) can engage under the fibersliver packages 5 a to 5 d in the direction of their longitudinal axes.The forks 32 a, 32 b are rotatable about a common longitudinal axiswhich extends in the longitudinal orientation thereof.

Referring to FIG. 14, six draw frames 1 a to 1 f, for exampleTrützschler TD 03, can be arranged in a row one next to the other. Alattice 35 (feed table) can be located at the inlet of each draw frame 1a to 1 f. Each lattice 35 can have six round cans 36. Reference numbers35 and 36 are shown for draw frame 1 a only. Each set of six round cans36 can supply six fiber slivers to be drafted to the drafting system 2(see FIG. 1 a) of a respective draw frame 1 a to 1 f. At the outlet ofeach draw frame 1 a to 1 f, can-less fiber sliver packages 5 areproduced in the respective depositing area 10 (see, e.g., FIGS. 1 a, 1b, 2, and 5). The draw frames 1 a to 1 f can be both sliver-fed andsliver-delivering spinning machines. After the outlet of each draw frame1 a to 1 f there can be a respective storage device 30 a to 30 f, towhich, from one side, the can-less fiber sliver packages 5 produced inthe draw frame 1 a to 1 f are discharged and in which the can-less fibersliver packages 5 are stored on transport pallets 25. On the respectiveother side and along the storage devices 30 a to 30 f there can bearranged a rail guide 37 on which (in accordance with the example shownin FIG. 14) two driven transport vehicles 38 a, 38 b are moved back andforth in the direction of arrows W₁, W₂. The storage devices 30 a to 30f can be positioned so that they lie in a common path with the transportvehicles 38 a, 38 b. At an end region of the rail guide 37 (for example,in the region to the right of the storage device 30 f in FIG. 14) therecan be arranged, transversely with respect to the rail guide 37, aconveyor device 39 (e.g., a roller conveyor, conveyor belt or the like)for transport pallets 25 loaded with fiber sliver packages 5 (fullpallets). There can also be a second conveyor device 40 (e.g., a rollerbelt, conveyor belt or the like) for empty transport pallets 25. Theconveyor device 39 leads to a press 41 having a binding device 42,downstream of which there can be arranged scales 43 and a labellingdevice 44. After that there can be provided a further conveyor device 45for forwarding and transporting the bound fiber sliver packages 5, whichcan consist of a bundle 5′ of a plurality of individual fiber sliverpackages.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the transport vehicle 38 acarries two transport pallets 25 a, 25 b each having a bundle 5′, 5″ offour can-less fiber sliver packages 5, the transport pallets 25 a, 25 bhaving been conveyed out of the storage device 30 a and loaded onto thetransport vehicle 38 a. Accordingly, in the storage device 30 a thereare two empty storage positions for two empty transport pallets 25′. Ineach of the storage devices 30 b to 30 e there are two empty transportpallets 25′ for receiving can-less fiber sliver packages 5 or bundles5′. In the storage device 30 f, two empty storage positions for twoempty transport pallets 25′ are shown. On the transport vehicle 38 bthere can be arranged two empty pallets 25′, 25″. In operation, thetransport vehicle 38 a can travel to one end of the conveyor device 39,where pallets 25 a, 25 b, holding bundles 5′, 5″ , are loaded one afterthe other and forwarded to the press 41 in the direction of arrow X. Atthe press 41, the bundles 5′, 5″ can be provided with base and coverboards (not shown), for example of corrugated cardboard, fiberboard orthe like, pressed, bound, removed from the transport pallets 25, anddischarged onto the conveyor device 45 in the form of bound bundles. Theempty transport pallets 25′ separated from the bundles 5′, 5″ can beconveyed by means of a cross-conveyor 46 to the conveyor device 40 fromwhere they are loaded in direction Y onto one of the transport vehicles38 a or 38 b.

In accordance with the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 15, at the inlet ofa draw frame 1, for example a Trützschler TD 03, there can be arranged afeed table 35 (lattice) which can be associated with two transportpallets 25 a, 25 b. Four independent can-less fiber sliver packages 5.1to 5.4 are stably arranged one next to the other on the transport pallet25 a, and four independent can-less fiber sliver packages 5.5 to 5.8 arestably arranged one next to the other on the transport pallet 25 b. Thefiber sliver packages 5.1 to 5.8 can be worked off individually. Forexample, in the case of four fiber sliver packages 5.1 to 5.4 and 5.5.to 5.8 on transport pallets 25 a and 25 b, respectively, there can befour working-off points in each case. The draw frame 1 can be suppliedwith eight fiber slivers (cf. the fiber slivers 82 in FIG. 20). Such anarrangement can create a space-optimized version.

In accordance with FIG. 16, upstream of the inlet of the draw frame 1,for example a Trützschler TD 03, there can be arranged the feed table 35(lattice) which can be associated with eight transport pallets 25 a to25 h. On each transport pallet 25 a to 25 h there can be stably arrangedone next to the other four can-less fiber sliver packages, for examplefiber sliver packages 5.1 on transport pallet 25 a. In accordance withthe exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the packages 5.1 are joinedto one another by their sliver ends. In that way, the fiber sliverpackages on a transport pallet, for example fiber sliver packages 5.1 ontransport pallet 25 a, are unwound one after the other withoutinterruption, bringing the advantage of long sliver run lengths. Wherethere are four fiber sliver packages on each transport pallet, the runtime for a total fiber sliver package is quadrupled. Such an arrangementcan optimize efficiency.

Reverting to FIG. 14, the draw frames 1 a to 1 f shown there may besliver-fed and sliver-delivering spinning machines, and instead of beingsupplied with round cans 36, each lattice 35 may be supplied withcan-less fiber sliver packages 5, for example in the manner shown inFIGS. 15 or 16.

Referring to FIG. 17, the apparatus according to the invention can beused in so-called direct spinning. The method of automating the yarnproduction process, especially in spinning mills having rotor-spinningmachines, can advantageously be based on the use of can-less fibersliver packages having elongate cross-sections. Such a fiber sliverpackage can be precisely and stably positioned on an elongated support(e.g., support 25 described previously) in a selected operating positionof the rotor-spinning machine by readily available means. The automaticprocess of yarn production can be controlled by a control center 50which determines the appropriate time for exchange of the supports, forexample, transport pallets 25, under the spinning positions of therotor-spinning machines 51 a to 51 d. For example, the control center 50can operate on the basis of the sum of two logic signals. The logicsignals can represent, for example, the reaching or exceeding of apredetermined spinning time of a spinning position, so that the spinningoperation can be interrupted at that spinning position. To optimize theprocess of exchanging the supports 25, the control center 50 can draw onthe knowledge of information relating to the pure spinning time of theindividual spinning positions since the last exchange of the supports 25of the spinning position in question.

As the loading station for the supports 25, the spinning mill can haveat least one flat card 52 a to 52 c, for example a Trützschler TC 03.Each flat card can contain an integrated drafting system 53 a to 53 c,for example a Trützschler IDF, and a rotary plate 54 a to 54 c. Eachflat card 52 a to 52 c can be associated with a storage device 55 a, 55b, 55 c for transport pallets loaded with fiber sliver packages, and forempty transport pallets. The storage devices 55 a, 55 b, 55 c can be inthe form of belt storage means, for example, in the manner shown in FIG.9. Between the rotor-spinning machines 51 a to 51 d and the storagedevices 55 a to 55 c there can be installed in the plane of the floor ofthe spinning mill an induction loop 56. The signals from the controlcenter 50 and the reactions of the sensors from and/or to at least oneautomatically controlled transport carriage 57 can be transmitted by theinduction loop. The transport carriage 57 can have at least onetransport pallet 25 for each of the can-less fiber sliver packages 5.Reference numeral 58 denotes an intermediate storage means (buffer) fortransport pallets having can-less fiber sliver packages and for emptytransport pallets. The rotor-spinning machines 51 a to 51 d aresliver-fed spinning machines.

FIG. 18 shows the flat card 52, for example, a Trützschler flat card TC03, as a sliver-delivering spinning room machine, having a feed roller60, feed table 61, lickers-in 62 a, 62 b, 62 c, cylinder 63, doffer 64,stripper roller 65, nip rollers 66, 67, web guide element 68, web funnel69, delivery rollers 70, 71, and revolving card top 59. Downstream ofthe outlet of the flat card 52, there can be arranged asliver-depositing device 72, in which the rotating rotary plate 54 islocated in a rotary plate panel 73, above which there is arranged thedrafting system 53, for example, a Trützschler IDF. The fiber sliver 74produced by the flat card 52 can pass by way of a sliver funnel throughthe drafting system 53, through a sliver funnel with delivery rollers,then through the sliver channel of the rotary plate 54, and isultimately deposited in the form of a can-less fiber sliver package 5 ona support plate 4. The support plate 4 can be moved back and forthhorizontally in directions A, B during deposition. The support plate canbe lowered in direction E after each stroke. The fiber sliver package 5can be stably positioned in a manner corresponding to that shownpreviously, for example, in FIGS. 1 a, 1 b, and 4.

FIG. 19 shows a flyer 75 (a sliver-fed spinning room machine) having aspindle and spool device 76, a flyer drafting system 77, and an upstreamfeed table 35 (lattice). Beneath the lattice 35 there are four can-lessfiber sliver packages 5 a to 5 d, the fiber sliver packages 5 a, 5 bbeing stably positioned on a transport pallet 25 a and the fiber sliverpackages 5 c, 5 d being stably positioned on a transport pallet 25 b.

Referring to FIG. 20, a combing preparation machine 80 (a sliver-fed andsliver-delivering spinning room machine) has two feed tables 35 a, 35 b(lattice) arranged parallel to one another. The combing preparationmachine also has six transport pallets 25 ₁ to 25 ₆ carrying stablypositioned can-less fiber sliver packages 5 ₁ to 5 ₆ (only 5 ₁ shown)being arranged beneath the feed table 35 a, and six transport pallets 25₇ to 25 ₁₂ carrying stably positioned can-less fiber sliver packages 5 ₇to 5 ₁₂ (not shown) being arranged beneath the feed table 35 b. The feedtables 35 a, 35 b can have a guide pulley 81 above each of the fibersliver packages 5 ₁ to 5 ₁₂. The fiber slivers 82 withdrawn from thefiber sliver packages 5 ₁ to 5 ₁₂, after being guided by the guidepulleys 81, can pass into two drafting systems 83 a, 83 b of the combingpreparation machine 80. The drafting systems 83 a, 83 b can be arrangedone after the other. From the drafting system 83 a, the fiber sliver webthat has been formed is guided over the web table 84 and, at the outletof the drafting system 83 b, laid one on top of the other with the fibersliver web produced therein. The two fiber sliver webs are drawn into adownstream drafting system 83 c, and the fiber material produced in thedrafting system 83 c is deposited, using a downstream rotary plate 84,in rings on a substantially rectangular support plate 4 which is movableback and forth in the longitudinal direction to form a can-less fibersliver package 5. The fiber sliver package 5 can be stably positioned ina manner corresponding to that shown previously, for example, in FIGS. 1a, 1 b and 4. The can-less fiber sliver package 5 can then be suppliedto a combing machine (see FIG. 21).

Referring to FIG. 21, a combing machine 90 has six combing heads 91 a to91 f arranged in a row one next to the other. Each combing head 91 a to91 f can be associated with a transport pallet 25 ₁ to 25 ₆, there beingtwo of the can-less fiber sliver packages 5 ₁ to 5 ₁₂ (only 5 ₁illustrated) stably positioned on each transport pallet 25 ₁ to 25 ₆.The fiber slivers that have been deposited in rings are withdrawn fromthe fiber sliver packages 5 ₁ to 5 ₁₂ which, when seen in plan view, aresubstantially rectangular. For that purpose, above the fiber sliverpackages 5 ₁ to 5 ₁₂ there is a lattice framework 93 with guide pulleys(see FIG. 20). The fiber slivers 92 are combed in the combing heads 91 ato 91 f and supplied by way of the sliver table 94 to a drafting system95, in which the fiber slivers 92 are combined to form a single fibersliver 96. In the downstream sliver deposition step, a rotary plate 97deposits the fiber sliver 96 in ring form in the form of a can-lessfiber sliver package 5 on a substantially rectangular support plate 4which is movable back and forth in the longitudinal direction. The fibersliver package 5 can be stably positioned in a manner corresponding tothat shown previously, for example, in FIGS. 1 a, 1 b, and 4. Thecan-less fiber sliver package can then be supplied to a spinning machineor a storage means.

The afore-mentioned components, as well as the fiber sliver packages 5,can be provided singly or multiply, as required. The component namesused herein are not to be interpreted in the narrow sense of the words,but are to be understood as being synonyms for a certain kind of machineor system component. For example, in the context of the presentinvention the term “draw frame” represents one or more sliver-deliveringor sliver-producing machine(s). The fiber sliver packages 5 have asubstantially rectangular shape in the configurations shown. Variouskinds of spinning machines can be used as sliver-fed (sliver-processing)spinning machines, for example, ring-spinning or open-end spinningmachines, but also draw frames, flyers, combing preparation machines orcombing machines, which are supplied with fiber slivers for theproduction of fiber structures (roving, wound lap, fiber sliver, yarn).For the explanation in FIG. 17, an open-end spinning machine has beenchosen solely as an exemplary embodiment. The particular construction ofthe storage devices is, in principle, also of no significance for thepresent invention; in principle, a storage position for the fiber sliverpackages 5 is sufficient for that purpose. The fiber sliver packages 5produced in the draw frame 1 are preferably arranged as a group on asupport by means of which they are always transported back and forth asa complete unit between the individual components of the system.According to the exemplary embodiments shown in FIG. 14 and 17, aplurality of transport vehicles can be provided, each of which is ableto receive a group of can-less fiber sliver packages 5 in the form of aunit, which it conveys from the (sliver-delivering or sliver-producing)draw frame 1 to a sliver-processing or sliver-consuming textile machinefor further processing or to intermediate storage. In the exemplaryembodiments shown in FIGS. 14 and 17, the transport vehicles are in theform of automatic units, the drive means of which are not shown forreasons of clarity of the drawings, which can travel along a pathbetween the individual components of the system. The term “path” or“track” is not to be understood in the narrow sense of the word; it isintended also to include infrared or ultrasonic guide means or the like.If the transport vehicle is steered manually, the term “path” alsoincludes any kind of route along which the transport vehicle is or canbe transported.

In spinning, cans, also called spinning cans, are hollow bodies(containers) which can be used for the deposition, housing, and removalof fiber slivers. The cans can be forwarded, transported, stored, andsupplied. Such cans can be in the form of rectangular cans enclosed onall sides by walls, that is to say having four side walls and a basewall, with the exception of the open upper side, which is used as afilling and removal opening for the fiber sliver. In contrast, theinvention relates to can-less fiber sliver packages 5, that is to saythere are no cans, containers or the like for the fiber sliver. Thefiber sliver is deposited, withdrawn, forwarded, stored and supplied inthe form of a can-less fiber sliver package 5.

The embodiments illustrated and discussed in this specification areintended only to teach those skilled in the art the best way known tothe inventors to make and use the invention. Nothing in thisspecification should be considered as limiting the scope of theinvention. All examples presented are representative and non-limiting.The above-described embodiments of the invention may be modified orvaried, without departing from the invention, as appreciated by thoseskilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore tobe understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than asspecifically described.

1. An apparatus in a spinning room for providing at least one fibersliver package to a sliver-fed machine having at least one feedposition, comprising a transport arrangement for transporting one ormore fiber sliver packages from an upstream sliver-delivering machine ora storage station to a said sliver-fed machine, wherein the transportarrangement is arranged to supply at least one said fiber sliver packageto a said feed position and the fiber sliver package(s) can be stablypositioned at said feed position.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1,in which the transport arrangement comprises at least one transportdevice and at least one support, wherein a said transport device isarranged for common transport of at least one said support, and at leastone stably positioned fiber sliver package received on said support. 3.An apparatus according to claim 2, in which more than one fiber sliverpackage is supportable on the or each said support, the number of fibersliver packages on the or each support corresponding to a number offiber sliver packages to be supplied to the sliver-fed machine.
 4. Anapparatus according to claim 2, in which a supporting element is mountedon one side of the or each support.
 5. An apparatus according to claim4, in which the supporting element is associated with a side face of afirst deposited fiber sliver package.
 6. An apparatus according to claim4, in which the supporting element is in the form of walls, rods ortransport belts.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 4, in which thesupporting element consists of, or is coated with, a material thatpromotes sliding.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 4, in which thesupporting element is inclinable by about from 5 to 10°.
 9. An apparatusaccording to claim 2, in which the support is a standard pallet.
 10. Anapparatus according to claim 2, in which the support is inclinable or isinclined by an angle of from 5 to 10°.
 11. An apparatus according toclaim 2, in which the support has on its underside insertion openingsfor connecting with at least one element of the transport device.
 12. Anapparatus according to claim 11, in which the support has slots or guidemeans into which driver elements are able to enter.
 13. An apparatusaccording to claim 2, in which the transport device comprises a mobiletransport apparatus upon which the support loaded with deposited fibersliver packages is positionable directly.
 14. An apparatus according toclaim 1, in which the transport arrangement comprises a mobile transportapparatus.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 15, in which thetransport apparatus is track guided, rail guided, track-guided by meansof an induction loop or is freely moveable.
 16. An apparatus accordingto claim 1, in which the transport arrangement comprises a conveyordevice.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the transportarrangement comprises a rail- or track-guided transport device whichserves a plurality of processing devices and/or storage means, which areso positioned that they are arranged along a common path of thetransport device.
 18. An apparatus according to claim 2, in which thetransport device is arranged to transport a support loaded with at leastone sliver package to a feed position provided on at least onesliver-fed machine.
 19. An apparatus according to claim 2, in whichthere is a plurality of fiber sliver packages present on a support, andprocessing of two or more of said fiber sliver packages is effectedsimultaneously.
 20. An apparatus according to claim 19, in which thenumber of sliver working-off points corresponds to the number of fibersliver packages on the support.
 21. An apparatus according to claim 19,in which a plurality of fiber sliver packages are processed one afterthe other, the ends of adjacent fiber sliver packages being joinedtogether.
 22. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which, in the caseof direct spinning, fiber sliver packages at the feed positions can beexchanged individually.
 23. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which,in the case of direct spinning, fiber sliver packages at the feedpositions can be exchanged in groups.
 24. An apparatus according toclaim 1, in which, in respect of the fiber sliver package(s), thetransport to a subsequent processing device or to a storage means iseffected without cans or containers.
 25. A transport system in a textilefiber processing installation, for transporting at least one can-lessfiber sliver package along a predetermined path within the textile fiberprocessing installation between a can-less fiber sliver package deliverystation and a sliver-fed machine, the transport system comprising atransport device adapted to receive can-less fiber sliver packages fromthe fiber sliver package delivery station, carry the received can-lessfiber sliver package(s) in a stably positioned manner and to deliverthose can-less fiber sliver packages to the sliver-fed machine, and thetransport system being adapted to deliver the fiber sliver package(s) toa feed location of the sliver-fed machine in such a manner that thefiber sliver package(s) are stably positioned during taking-off ofsliver therefrom by the sliver-fed machine.